- October 9, 2024
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The city of Ormond Beach will be seeking two ECHO grants in the next funding cycle from the Volusia County program.
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the City Commission approved two grant requests via its consent agenda for the meeting: One for the installation of LED lights for the softball quad at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex, and one to help fund the renovations of baseball fields 2-5 at Nova Community Park.
Applications for the ECHO grant program — which was created thanks to a voter referendum in 2000 and renewed for another 20 years in 2020 to help fund environmental, cultural, historical and outdoor recreation projects in the county — were due by Thursday, Nov. 9.
The city is seeking a $456,479 ECHO grant for new LED lights at the Sports Complex softball quad, a project it estimates will cost $912,959. In order to qualify for an ECHO grant, the city must provide a 50% match. The city’s match will come from the Leisure Services Capital Fund, according to the agenda item document.
“The city strives to implement green technologies that have low impact on the environment,” the agenda item states. “Over the past several years, staff has been working, in conjunction with the [Leisure Services Advisory Board], to implement LED lighting projects on recreational facilities. Adding LED lighting to the softball quad will reduce energy consumption, CO2 and waste.”
The city estimates that the ball fields’ renovation will cost a total of $432,652, so it is seeking an ECHO grant of $216,326. The city’s match will be funded with $100,000 from the Leisure Services Capital Fund and $116,326 from the city’s general fund reserves.
During a workshop on Aug. 15, commissioners expressed concern with the safety of the ball fields, which were last rehabilitated between 15 and 20 years ago and are often plagued with “lips,” or raised sections between the infield and outfield.
“I just think it’s a great thing that we’re moving forward with this in a quick manner,” City Commissioner Travis Sargent said.
In September, the commission approved a property tax increase that was 13.71% above the rollback rate (the rate that would generate the same amount of tax revenue as the previous year) to increase funding for Leisure Services and the city’s Facilities Renewal and Replacement fund. This was done largely to fund the softball quad lighting project and the renovation of the ball fields at Nova Rec.
